Parents of Miners Who Died in NSCDC Custody Demand Compensation

Parents of artisanal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, have called for compensation for the bereaved families.

They said such payments would deter abuse of power and promote accountability among law enforcement personnel.

One of the parents, 50-year-old Musa Aliyu, who has been ill for the past year, lost two of his children, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, in the incident.Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, Aliyu said his late sons were his main source of support, particularly in buying his medications.

He recalled that the children left home peacefully on Wednesday for the mining site at Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate but did not return that evening.

“My wife was later informed that some miners had been arrested, so she went to the Civil Defence office near the PDP Secretariat. When she got there, she met a crowd of relatives who had also gone in search of their children.

"She was informed that our children were dead and we were asked to go to the General Hospital to identify and claim their bodies.

“These children helped me sustain my medication. They contributed money to buy drugs for me. I leave whoever is responsible for the death of my children to Allah. I believe they were killed,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.

Another parent, Lawal Mohammad, said he lost his 15-year-old son, Suleiman.Mohammad told NAN that he tried to take food to his son on the day of the arrest but was denied access by NSCDC personnel.

“We went to the Civil Defence office on Wednesday night and were asked to return the following day. We went back on Thursday morning to give him food, but we were told that he was dead. I was at the Civil Defence office when the bodies were brought out and loaded into ambulances.

“I am in pain, and I cannot forgive this. Those responsible should be made to pay compensation so as to serve as a lesson to others who abuse power,” he said.

Mohammad, also fighting back tears, explained that his son took up artisanal mining to earn a living and support the family.

He appealed to the authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.